Choosing Art History & Visual Culture Studies as my major was easily the best decision that I made during my time at Whitman. I took my first AHVCS class (Intro with Professor Lisa Uddin) during my first semester at Whitman, and I was immediately hooked.
While I originally took the class because of an undefined interest in “art” generally, what truly fascinated me and kept me registering for more classes was the latter half of the acronym—visual culture studies. By interrogating the production, function, and history of objects and spaces, I found an entry point into learning about the intersection of religion, race, politics and history. In this way, I think AHVCS truly epitomizes the liberal arts education experience.
Today, nearly four years after graduating, I use the skills I developed through my AHVCS education all the time. While I am not currently working in the arts & culture realm, AHVCS has shaped how I see and think about the world (I haven’t looked at the white walls of a museum the same way since my sophomore year of college) and has certainly made me a better person for it.
AHVCS classes provided me the opportunity to think creatively and critically, own my opinions and ideas, work through complex questions in a supportive yet challenging environment, and become a better writer and communicator.
Some of my favorite memories at Whitman involve time spent with my fellow AHVCS majors. I was consistently inspired by the dedication and intelligence of the AHVCS professors, their commitment to creating a tight-knit community within the department and their encouragement of curiosity and creative thinking among students. I am so grateful for the four years that I was able to spend learning among this community.